West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had a close call today. Her helicopter had to make an emergency landing at an Army base in North Bengal due to sudden bad weather. The incident took place when Banerjee was heading to Bagdogra airport after addressing a political rally in Jalpaiguri. The helicopter, which was privately chartered, was supposed to take her back to Kolkata.
As the helicopter was flying over the Baikunthpur jungle, the pilot was forced to change the flight plan because of the unexpected bad weather. Instead, he made an emergency landing at the Army airbase on Sevoke Road. Official sources reported that the landing went off without any significant incident.
Banerjee is the leader of the ruling Trinamool Congress in West Bengal. Her senior colleagues confirmed that she and the other officials travelling with her were safe. However, due to the landing, it is uncertain when the Chief Minister will be able to return to Kolkata. Sources say that she may have to travel by road.
The incident once again raises questions about the safety and reliability of private chartered flights. While such flights have become popular among politicians in India, they have come under criticism from various quarters in recent years. A similar helicopter incident in 2015 claimed the life of a former Union Minister, Gopinath Munde.
Banerjee is the latest high-profile politician to have suffered such a mishap. In 2017, Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu’s helicopter too was forced to make an emergency landing. In 2016, the Indian Air Force also had to replace the helicopter of the Indian President, Pranab Mukherjee, after it suffered technical problems.
All in all, it is a reminder of the risks that come with air travel, whether you are a powerful politician or a civilian. It is essential to take utmost care and measures to ensure everyone’s safety while in the air.
